Reluctantly, Libby trudged onto the Dark Stones rendezvous site. She felt hollow. Lost. Almost all of her family, her entire Pack, were gone. And it's all my fault. Alex had been right all along. She had been reckless. Now it had cost her and her brother everything.

"It'll be okay, pups, eventually." Red Spirit tried to sound optimistic, but Libby could hear the sadness in their voice, though they clearly hadn't known the Fading Shadows Pack.

Libby stiffened, glancing over her shoulders at the they-wolf with a hurt gaze. "Don't you get it? Mom, Dad, Alice, the Pack... This is all because of me! All of it!"

Red Spirit shook their head firmly. "No, it ei not. Libby, you are a pup, and all pups make mistakes! You wouldn't believe the things me and Ktea got up to when we were your age. Besides, the Army would've come anyways without you leaving. You staying or not staying wouldn't have done anything."

"At least I'd be beside Mom and Dad!" Libby shouted, causing the other wolves to look over at them. Libby didn't care. She just wanted her family back.

"You’re not better of dead, Libby."

Libby heard Alex grunt beside her as his hackles raised. "Well, that Wessels guy surely would be better off dead! And those wolves that stole us!"

Red Spirit gently guided them in the direction of the youngster's cave. "Maybe, but don't go getting ideas of revenge. You’re a puppy, and right now you two need to rest and be allowed to grief."

Alex made another grunting noise before heading inside. Libby hesitated before following. She slowly looked over her shoulder at Red Spirit, her ears drooping. "I want them back..."

Red Spirit's red eyes shone sympathetically. "I know. We'll protect you from now on, don't worry."

Libby repressed a sob before entering the den, which was empty save for Alex. She curled up and buried her muzzle below her paws. She hoped she'd fall asleep and wake up in the Realm of Souls, to be with her family.

***

She awoke with a groan after some time had passed, though she didn't know how much. The sun was past its peak, but it wasn't dusk yet. Voices came from the rendezvous, but didn't want to listen. Leave me alone.

"Psst, Libby." Her brother's voice made her finally open one of her eyes and perk up an ear.

"What?"

"They're talking about us." Alex gestured towards the rendezvous.

"I don't care." Libby buried her face in her paws again.

Alex looked over sympathetically, before walking up to her. He gently nudged her shoulder.

Libby glanced up, her brown eyes sunken and bloodshot.

Alex's expression determined. "You're not alone, remember that. And I'm going to train and be strong. One day, I'll have my revenge on Wessels!" He clawed at the ground and let out a high-pitched snarl. "I'm going to kill him. I don't care what it takes."

Libby sat up and blinked, but didn't respond. It felt odd to see her brother like this. She perked her ears as she listened to the goings-ons outside.

"...cannot take these Plains wolves into our Pack!" That was Snow-white, of course.

"Mom is right," added Ktea's voice. "These pups will be a nuisance. Plains wolves and Forest wolves don't mix. That's simply a fact of nature."

Dreven's voice corrected her. "It is on the rarer side for there to be contact between Forest Packs and Plain Packs, but it is not unheard of. I know that our two factions have had a...tough history, with many wars in days long passed. For as long as I have lived and before that, the Forest wolves and Plain wolves have tolerated each other, being indifferent at most. That aside, we cannot send these two pups away. They need our help and a home. We will offer them that."

Both Libby and Alex scooted over to the cave's entrance, keeping their heads low so the others couldn't notice them spying on the conversation.

A tawny she-wolf with yellow eyes spoke up. "Dreven, no offense, but I don't think we should adopt these pups."

Kotan butted in. "But I think Dreven is right. We can't send them away. How would you feel if it was Katie or Umium that needed to be taken in?"

The tawny she-wolf turned away her head with a humph. Snow-white and Ktea looked equally displeased.

Dreven was about to say something, but Kotan stepped forward, clearly trying out his role as new Second. "I have an idea. How about everyone who wants the pups to stay with us to go to the Healer's Cave side of the clearing, and everyone else goes to the opposite side? That way everyone gets to make their voices heard, though the final decision does lie with Dreven."

Dreven looked surprised at the young Second's suggestion, but nodded. "An excellent idea, Kotan."

The Pack started moving about on the clearing. To no one's surprise, Snow-white, Ktea, and the tawny she-wolf headed to the left. Red Spirit and the pale gray wolf called Onor traveled in the direction of the Healer's cave. They were soon followed by the young trainees Katie and Umium. A dark purplish-gray male remained in the middle of the clearing for a moment, before also joining the Healer's Cave's side.

Now only Maggie and Diamond remained. Maggie shot an apologetic look at Onor and purplish-gray male, before turning in the direction of Snow-white and the others. Finally, Diamond sat down in the middle. "I am completely neutral on the situation, Leader. Whatever we decide, the pups musn't suffer any more than they already have."

Dreven nodded curtly. "I thank you for your opinions, but my decision is final. Libby and Alex are to become Dark Stones wolves. I expect all of you to treat them with kindness and respect."

Snow-white huffed. "Easy for you to say that!"

Kotan stepped up. "Snow-white! Show your Leader some respect!"

The white she-wolf raised her lips. "What is the Pack of Dark Stones coming to? A coward for a Leader, a pup as its Second and now two Plains wolves in our midst!" She slunk away into the deep forest. Ktea followed her, looking aloof.

Dreven looked at his Second. Kotan seemingly already knew what he wanted to ask, for he walked in the youngsters' direction.

Libby and Alex scrambled into their nests, pretending they were asleep. Kotan stuck his head inside the cave. "Pups. Are you awake?"

Libby faked a yawn. "Now I am."

"Come outside, if you please. Dreven and I want to talk to you."

"Okay." Alex soon followed him, Libby at his heels.

They sat down in the middle of the clearing in front of the Leader. The rest of the wolves had started to go about their business as usual, though Libby could feel some of their gazes.

Dreven began. "Once more I want to tell you how sorry I am for what happened to the Pack of Fading Shadows. Losing your family...it is hard. I know, believe me. I am not saying that we will be able to replace your family but...you still need a home. Are you sure you do not have any other relatives?"

Libby shook her head. “Not as far as we know.”

Dreven nodded. "Very well. In that case, the Pack of Dark Stones will take you in. We'll train you once you've come of age and one day you will be able to be fully fledged members of our Pack. I know that it will be difficult for Plains wolves to adapt to living in a forest, but it will work itself out. You are still young, and pups are highly adaptable. Much more so than old folk like me." He chuckled mildly.

"Or Snow-white," Kotan said with an askew grin on his face.

Dreven couldn't help but huff in amusement, before turning to the pups again. "Do you accept?"

Libby looked at her brother. He seemed a lot more certain than her, judging by his expression. "I accept, Dreven."

"Yes. I accept," Libby echoed.

The Dark Stones Leader nodded. "Good. Since you're only six quarter-moons old, you'll have to wait until you're old enough to become a trainee and go off the rendezvous site. You're about the same age as Maggie, so I can promote you to the trainee role all at the same time. In the meantime, feel free to explore the rendezvous site. I know that not all of the wolves seem like the most delightful bunch, but they'll accept you as our own before long."

Libby looked at the ground. "I don't think Snow-white will ever accept us. Or Ktea."

Kotan twitched an ear with a relaxed expression. "Don't pay Snow-white and Ktea much mind. They're very...conservative, and think that Snow-white should have a claim to the Leadership position."

"You can say that again. Anything I do is bound to get her criticism." Dreven smirked.

"I'll have Red Spirit and Onor regularly check up on you to make sure you're okay."

Libby nodded. She liked Red Spirit, at least.

"Something else to ponder in the coming quarter-moons," Dreven continued, "is what Rank catches your fancy. While trainees are generally taught skills of all three Ranks, eventually there'll come a point where you'll have to decide what you want to be once you graduate. It's possible to switch mentors if your interest in Rank doesn't line up with your current trainer. Keep that in mind!"

Libby and Alex nodded in unison.

"Now, I must talk to Kotan privately to discuss Wessels' Army. I hope you enjoy your stay here at Dark Stones, pups." He turned to his Second, and the two of them headed in the direction of the Leader's Cave, which was built below the large pile of boulders.

Alex looked at his sister. "Do you think we should explore? I'd like to get to know our future Packmates."

Libby stared at the sandy ground in front of her. "What does it matter?" She turned and headed back towards the empty youngster's cave, where she curled up and pressed her eyes shut.

***

The days passed slowly and brought on a bout of bad weather, with a strong wind, darkening skies and endless pouring rain.

Libby was still cooped up in the youngsters' cave. In the past few days, she had left only to relieve herself or drink from a small pool that was located near the Leader's Cave.

Alex, his coat soaked from the rain, walked up to her as she was staring blankly into the space in front of her. He carried a blackbird in his jaws, which he dropped in front of her muzzle. Libby only blinked in response.

Alex moved away from her inside the cave and shook out his coat. "Brrr! This weather's the worst. I guess one good thing about being in Dark Stones is that everyone has a cave. If we'd had this weather in Fading Shadows Pack, we'd be soaked! Unless we hid in the den, of course.

Libby blinked again.

Alex looked at her, his brow furrowed with worry. "Libby, please, look at me."

His sister's eyes slowly met his, and she blinked once again. Her gaze was dark and her eyes sunken more so than before. Her coat was unkempt and dirty.

"Libby, I miss Mom and Dad every single day. But...we must move on. I promised I'd look after you. So that's what I'm doing now."

Libby stared at the ground in front of her again. Leave me alone.

Her brother nudged the blackbird closer to her face. "We're not fully weaned yet, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. I've eaten solid food a couple of times in the past days. It's not too hard to chew once you get the hang of it. Please, Libby! You can't starve yourself!"

Libby suddenly got up and her hackles raised. "Why shouldn't I? It's my fault they're all dead!"

Alex shook his head. "We've been over this. I know I was mad at you at first, but this isn't your fault. The battle was already taking place while we snuck out."

"Well, it still isn't fair! I should be in the Realm of Souls, with Mom and Dad and Alice and Pike and—"